Kitchen flooring · Scotland
Kitchen flooring in Edinburgh
Kitchen flooring in Edinburgh starts with a free visit to measure up, then a written scope and quote before any work begins.
When does kitchen flooring make sense in Edinburgh?
If your home in Edinburgh has suspended timber floorboards, a plywood overlay usually goes down first so tiles or LVT do not crack or show the board joints.
Landlords in Edinburgh often want a floor that survives several tenancies, so sheet vinyl or tiles with a darker grout are common choices for rental kitchens.
What does kitchen flooring in Edinburgh include?
Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:
- Free survey visit to check the subfloor, measure up and give an itemised quote
- Old coverings lifted and removed, with pre-2000 floor tiles checked for asbestos first
- Moisture checks on concrete floors and screeds before any floor finish is laid
- Levelling compound or a plywood overlay to give a flat, firm base
- LVT, sheet vinyl, porcelain or ceramic tiles, or engineered wood laid to suit the room
- Flooring run under appliance spaces so machines can be pulled out for servicing
- Underlay suited to the floor finish, the subfloor and any underfloor heating
- Threshold trims at doorways, with skirting, plinths and kickboards refitted
How much does kitchen flooring cost in Edinburgh?
Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and are firmed up once we have seen your Edinburgh kitchen. For Edinburgh and Glasgow, these ranges are close to the national figures.
| Typical project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| LVT or vinyl, kitchen floorPreparation, underlay where needed and trims | £510–£1,500 |
| Porcelain or ceramic tiles, kitchen floorPreparation, adhesive, grout and trims | £920–£2,000 |
| Floor levelling or new plywood baseSo the floor finish and units sit flat | £310–£920 |
Guide prices are for a typical-sized kitchen floor, including preparation, adhesive or underlay and trims; the material you choose, open-plan floor areas and any levelling or plywood base are confirmed at the survey. Prices include VAT at 20%.
Kitchens in homes across Edinburgh
The housing mix across Edinburgh includes Victorian tenement flats, Georgian New Town flats, stone villas and post-war council-built houses, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Tenement flats often have a small kitchen off the hall, while Georgian flats may have kitchens in former bedrooms or reception rooms with tall ceilings.
Edinburgh's mains water is soft, so limescale is rarely a problem and taps, sinks and boiling water taps stay cleaner for longer. Common stairs without lifts, controlled parking and cobbled streets in older parts of the city mean deliveries and stair carries need planning before fitting day.
Tenement and Georgian flats often have kitchens in small rooms, and opening one into the living room needs a building warrant if the wall is load-bearing, and can need one even if it is not, where the change affects the escape route or fire separation in a flat. Stone villas and bungalows on the edge of the city more often suit a larger supply-and-fit kitchen.
Rules for kitchen flooring in Edinburgh
In Scotland, replacing a kitchen floor finish does not need a building warrant or planning permission. If you own a flat, check your title deeds and any deed of conditions, which may set rules on floor coverings or sound insulation; tenants should check their tenancy agreement. Electric underfloor heating must meet the building standards and BS 7671, so ask the electrician for a certificate. Listed buildings may need consent before original floors are removed.
The Old and New Towns form a World Heritage Site with many listed buildings, so new vents or internal changes may need consent, and tenement neighbours may need to agree.
Before you start
- Floating floors such as click LVT or engineered boards should not be trapped under heavy fixed units or an island; follow the flooring maker's instructions.
- Decide early whether the floor runs under the units or stops at the plinths; it affects ordering quantities, plinth heights and how the kitchen is fitted.
- Check the finished floor height at doorways, especially with tiles over a plywood overlay, so doors still swing and thresholds do not create a trip.
- New screeds hold a lot of water and must be dry enough before most floors go down, so allow time and ask for a moisture reading.
- Choose trims for each doorway at the survey, so the colour and height suit the floor in the next room of your Edinburgh home as well as the kitchen.
- Keep pets and children off a newly tiled floor until the grout has set, and put felt pads on chair legs if your Edinburgh kitchen has LVT or wood.
Questions about kitchen flooring in Edinburgh
How much does kitchen flooring cost in Edinburgh?
Guide prices in Edinburgh are about £510 to £1,500 including VAT for an LVT or vinyl kitchen floor. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.
Do you cover the whole of Edinburgh?
Yes. We carry out kitchen flooring across Edinburgh. Every job starts with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote.
Does my kitchen floor need levelling before new flooring?
Often, yes. Thin floors such as LVT and sheet vinyl show every dip and ridge underneath, and tiles can crack if the base flexes or is uneven. Concrete floors are usually smoothed with a levelling compound, while timber floorboards are normally overlaid with plywood screwed down at close centres. We check the floor at the survey and price any preparation as its own line.
Should kitchen flooring go down before or after the units?
It depends on the floor. Tiles are often laid first, or at least run under the appliance spaces, so a dishwasher or fridge can be pulled out without catching on the edge. Floating floors such as click LVT or engineered boards usually go down after the units, up to the plinth line, so they are not trapped under heavy fixed cabinets. We follow the flooring maker's instructions.
Is engineered wood a good choice for a kitchen floor?
It can be, but it needs more care than LVT or tiles. Engineered wood can swell or stain if water sits on it, so it is less suited to the areas around a sink or dishwasher, where leaks are most likely. If you choose it, pick a board the maker approves for kitchens, wipe spills promptly and keep the finish maintained.